Early o clock for those in the US, especially on the west coast. A tough one to predict but intriguing nonetheless as we continue to adjust the line-up as new options become available. Rudiger may be back but if so more likely to come off the bench. Giroud had some nice moments last weekend and may get the nod again up top. Cant see willian forcing himself into the 11 after his poor performance last week. Probably a good team for Pulisic to show some more against. Pukki is coming off a hat-trick effort for Norwich so will be in confident mood. They like to attack so will be a good test for whatever back line Lampard deploys (am expecting the same unit to start unless rudiger is fully healthy). Dave needs to step it up but we do need to be prepared to use kante in front of the 4 more effectively.
So Lamp should not start the undeserving, too young, and/or not good enough yet or perhaps ever, bad-decision making, header missing Mount, and Barkley and Tammy, should not play Willian, should not play the not prolific Giroud, should go with experience, remind me again how many premier League goals and assists Jorginho Kov and Kante for that matter have individually and collectively....should sit back compactly and park the bus, while scoring numerous goals, while not exposing themselves, while.... If Pedro scores rather than hitting the side-netting off the nice Giroud feed, Mount scores on the header, as every player would, why there are so many 20+ goal scorers in the League, then goes compact to protect a 3 or 4 goal lead at half is he still an idiot. If he starts slower and more wary and defensive, no high press and we have a nil-nil, if that, at 60 min is he more astute..., and really legs would be no fresher to score a late winner. If Willian had passed to the 3 open Blue players in the box instead of kicking into the side-netting... I thought he left the understandably too-tired Pedro on too long, and waited too long to adjust or make subs, or could have made different subs in the 2nd half but think it ridiculous to define his managerial nature or future after only 3 real matches, and all in one week. One can see the defense needs work, and some return to health, but aside from the weird ManU disaster, giving up one goal to Leicester and 2 over 120 to Pool, two very prolific offense teams, not really that awful. (yes they could have had more but we also could have had far more against both) Instead of what we should not do, how about some ideas on what we should do and who we should do it with ..that we actually have here and now. Me, I'd go with Emerson, AC, Dave, might give Tomori a shot over Zouma or Kennedy a shot at rb but not both at same time to start, Kante and Jorginho with Mount, Pul, Pedro and Giroud for what he does for others and play high press and on front foot early again with the proper rest. If we are up I'd bring on Kov for Jorginho in 2nd, tighten up a 4-2-3-1 Tammy, and Willian for another chance, unless Pul and Pedro too good to take off if need goals, I'd keep Kante back in more Mak-ish solo role, Barkley for Jorginho, Tammy and, Bats or Willian depending on whether want to go to 2 strikers and how Pul and Pedro playing
i'm a little concerned about this game. did anyone watch their game against 'pool? they cut through 'pool's midfield pretty consistently, especially in the first half. they are pretty well drilled and will come at us. we SHOULD be able to take care of them, but they are going to be able to pass around our midfield a lot better than i think most would anticipate for a newly promoted side. ultimately they can be open at the back too, but if it becomes a hectic game, they will absolutely have chances i think.
I would like to think Lampard will take a rather cautious approach to this one. Gone is the team that would go there and win 3-0, we may yet get there again with this current squad we have, but we're most likely not going to do it in this game. If they nick one early we;ll lose, and may lose by a couple. I would like us to not start like we did against Leicester, playing it tight whilst they tire themselves out in the inevitable opening rush they'll have planned to knock us out quickly. Keep it tight, nick it 1-0 mid way through the second half. 3 points, job done.
Or beat the tractor boys 4-0 and entertain the faithful. 3 points and a job well done. Begin the season with a little more optimism perhaps?
If we were playing the tractor boys I'd definitely fancy a 4-0. Ipswich are proper manure these days.
They're all the same over that part of the world. Alan Partridge Country. Normal for Norfolk https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Normal for Norfolk
Do those tractors have canaries on them... Well, that would indeed be nice wouldn't it? Football is a funny ol' game though innit? I mean, some sports have the advantage for teams travelling that being away from where they normally play isn't all that much of a hindrance.Football is probably top of the list of sports where this is most definitely not the case. Entertainment is the name of the game, eh? The canaries (after they get down off their tractors) will certainly be out to put on a show, and almost certainly will start out like we did against Leicester. You know.....when we were at home. Now, in my humble opinion, if they score on us early, we're going to lose and lose by 2 or more goals. There is a time to be entertaining and a time to be realistic and pragmatic. Away to Norwich is one such time. A couple of years past we could do what you suggested. We are not back there yet.
Definitely this is a team that can play. Should be an open game which means it will come down to finishing. I expect both sides to get a decent number of chances so who is clinical and who is going home disappointed? Either way, they are certainly a threat given areas where we are currently weaker but we also pose a threat. Per the OP I think a good showcase for pulisic to show us some more. Biggest question of the day: "will I sleep through my alarm"? The answer to this and other questions tomorrow!
It has been many moons since I dated a Norwich girl and spent a lot of time up there. Heartsease boot boys. It used to be said that Norwich had a Church for every week of the year and a pub for every day of the year. At this time Norwich had the highest number of pubs per square mile anywhere in the country. Sadly many of these pubs have since closed, but Norwich still enjoys a wealth of pubs. In Norwich they don't sell Sub sandwiches - they sell Torpedo's. And they have have Delia Smith . . .
Pedro's out crocked in warm-up which is less than optimal. Ross is in. Let's just hope he's up for it and it's one of his better games. Still, coming in when you weren't picked to start... NOT a good start for the kid.
What a start! Get in tammy, took it beautifully. Started with a lovely ball from mount to pulisic. Just a great move all around
Carved apart at the back again lol Pretty much going to script right now. Right through Dave's legs near post.
Tammy with the opener but then Dave fails to get out and close the guy down on the wing who crosses and they score. 1-1